Exodus 14:1-31

Exodus: Israel becomes a nation

The *Israelites leave Egypt

Exodus Chapter s 1 to 18

Hilda Bright and Kitty Pride

Chapter 14

The *Israelites cross the Red Sea – verses 1-31

*Pharaoh pursues the *Israelites – verses 1-9

v1 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses. v2 ‘Tell the *Israelites to turn back. Tell them to make their camp near Pi Hahiroth, between the place called Migdol and the sea. They must camp by the sea, opposite the place called Baal Zephon. v3 *Pharaoh will hear about it. He will think, “The *Israelites are wandering round. They are not sure which way they should go. The *desert is all round them now. And they are afraid to cross it.” v4 Then I will make *Pharaoh feel proud again. And he will chase after you. But I will ruin *Pharaoh and all his army. Everywhere people will *praise me when they hear about this. And the *Egyptians will know that I am the *LORD.’

The *Israelites obeyed the *LORD and they camped by the Red Sea.

v5 Egypt’s king heard that the *Israelites had gone away. Then *Pharaoh and his officials changed their decision about them. ‘We have not done a good thing’, they said. ‘We have let the *Israelites leave our country. We have lost all our workers!’

v6 So *Pharaoh ordered his servants to get his *chariot ready. He took his army with him. v7 He took 600 of his best *chariots. And he took drivers with their officers to direct them. He also ordered all the other *Egyptian *chariots, with their officers, to go with him. v8 The *LORD made *Pharaoh feel very proud and angry. He was the king, but he pursued the *Israelites. And they were marching along confidently. v9 So the *Egyptians chased after them. All *Pharaoh’s soldiers were following them. Some soldiers were riding in the *chariots. Other soldiers were riding on horses. The *Egyptians caught up with the *Israelites where they had camped by the sea. They were near the place called Pi Hahiroth. It was across from Baal Zephon.

Verses 1-2 God told the *Israelites to turn back. So they did not continue to go in the same direction (Numbers 33:7). God told them exactly where to camp. Pi-Hahiroth was probably two or three days’ journey from Etham. ‘Migdol’ was the name of a strong building where they could watch for an enemy. And ‘Baal Zephon’ was the name of a *Canaanite false god. The *Israelites camped north of the Red Sea. They were probably about 20 miles east of the city called Rameses and south of Lake Menzaleh.

Verses 3-4 God told them to change direction. That would give the wrong idea to *Pharaoh. He would think that the *Israelites did not know their way through the *desert. And he would think that they could not escape. The sea was in front of them and the *desert was behind them.

Verses 5-7 *Pharaoh and his officials realised that they had lost a very large number of their workers. So *Pharaoh became proud again and he lost his fear of God. He prepared to chase after the *Israelites. Most of his army consisted of *chariots, that they used in a war. Horses pulled these small vehicles with two men in each *chariot. One man *drove the horse and a second man was ready to fight. Egypt was famous for its ‘*chariots and horses’ (Isaiah 31:1). The *Egyptian king had an organisation of 30 captains, who were his officers over these *chariots. In the *Hebrew language the ‘third’ or ‘30’ men were the officers. When Solomon was king in *Israel, usually these *chariots had a third man in them.

The *Israelites’ terror and Moses’ reply – verses 10-14

v10 As *Pharaoh approached with his army, the *Israelites looked behind them. They were afraid. They saw that the *Egyptians were coming after them. Then they cried out to the *LORD for help. v11 Also they complained to Moses. ‘There was room for our graves in Egypt. You should not have brought us into the *desert to die. You should not have brought us away from Egypt. v12 We told you this while we were still in Egypt. We said, “Leave us alone. Let us serve the *Egyptians as their slaves.” It would be better for us to be their slaves! We prefer to serve the *Egyptians rather than to die here in the *desert!’

v13 Moses answered the people. ‘Do not be afraid’, he said. ‘Stand still. Then you will see how the *LORD will save you today. You can see the *Egyptians today. But you will never see them again. v14 The *LORD will fight for you. You need only to stand still.’

Verses 10-12 The *Israelites saw that *Pharaoh and his army were near. Immediately the *Israelites began to blame Moses. That was the first occasion when they complained. They blamed Moses that they had left Egypt. But they said that only because they were very afraid. They quickly forgot how they had suffered as slaves. The *Israelites thought only about *Pharaoh’s soldiers. They thought that the soldiers would kill them in the *desert.

Verses 13-14 Moses believed what the *LORD had promised. So he told the *Israelites that the *LORD would fight on their behalf. They had to to remain calm. That was all that they needed to do. The *LORD would free them from the *Egyptians for always.

The *LORD’s instruction – verses 15-20

v15 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses. ‘You should not be crying out to me for help. Tell the *Israelites to move ahead. v16 Raise your stick. Reach out with it over the sea and divide the water. Then the *Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. v17 I will cause the *Egyptians to feel very proud again. So they will follow you into the sea. People will hear what happens to *Pharaoh and to his army. They will hear what happens to his *chariots and to his soldiers on horses. Then people will give honour to me when they hear about this. v18 All the *Egyptians will know that I am the *LORD. People will give honour to me because of what happens to *Pharaoh and to his army.’

v19 The *LORD’s *angel had travelled in front of the *Israelites. Now he moved behind them. The tall cloud moved from in front of them. It went to a place behind them. v20 So the cloud was between the *Egyptian army and the *Israelites. During all the night, the cloud made it dark on the *Egyptian side. But it was light on the other side for the *Israelites. So neither army went near to each other during the night.

Verses 15-18 God told Moses to give the *sign. Then God would act. And the *Israelites would be able to walk through the sea on dry ground. But *Pharaoh and his army would follow them. God would show that he is the *LORD. And he would gain honour for himself.

Verses 19-20 ‘The *LORD’s *angel’ was God’s servant. He was travelling with them in order to protect the *Israelites. The tall cloud moved to a place behind the *Israelites. Then the *Egyptian army was in darkness. They could not see the *Israelites. That meant that the *Egyptians could not fight the *Israelites during the night.

The *Israelites cross the Red Sea – verses 21-31

v21 Then Moses reached out his hand towards the sea. All that night the *LORD *drove the sea back with a strong east wind. There was dry ground where the water had been. The waters divided and opened a way. v22 So the *Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on both sides of them.

v23 Then the *Egyptians pursued them. All *Pharaoh’s *chariots and his soldiers, who were riding horses, followed the *Israelites. They went into the sea. v24 Just before dawn, the *LORD looked down from the cloud of fire. He looked at the *Egyptian army. And he caused confusion among them. v25 He caused the wheels of their *chariots to stop. So it was difficult for the *Egyptian soldiers to *drive the *chariots. So the *Egyptians said, ‘Let us leave these *Israelites alone. The *LORD is fighting for them. He is fighting against us.’

v26 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses again. ‘Reach out your hand over the sea’, God said. ‘Then the water will flow back and it will cover the *Egyptians. And it will cover their *chariots and their horses.’ v27 Moses reached out his hand over the sea. And at dawn the sea flowed back to its usual place. The *Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the *LORD caused the water to catch them. v28 The water flowed back and it covered the *chariots and the soldiers who were on horses. It covered *Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed the *Israelites into the sea. Not one of the *Egyptians escaped.

v29 But all the *Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. They had a wall of water on their right side. And they had a wall of water on their left side. v30 That day, the *LORD saved *Israel from the *Egyptians’ power. And the *Israelites saw the *Egyptians’ dead bodies that were lying at the edge of the sea. v31 So the *Israelites knew that the *LORD’s great power had saved them from the *Egyptians. Then they respected the *LORD. And they trusted the *LORD and his servant, Moses.

Verses 21-22 The east wind blew back the water in the Red Sea. Then the *Israelites crossed it on dry ground. The cloud was behind the *Israelites so the *Egyptians could not come past them. Also, there was the ‘wall of water’ on each side. So the *Egyptians could not come along the left side or the right side to surround the *Israelites. The *Egyptians had to follow the same path through the water. They went behind the *Israelites.

Verses 23-25 ‘Just before dawn’ was about 6 o’clock in the morning. That was the best time to surprise the *Egyptians with an attack. God caused the *Egyptian army to become very afraid. The wheels of their *chariots could not move. Psalms 77:16-20 suggests that God sent a great storm at that time. The ground that had been under the sea was mud or sand. The *Israelites walked over the ground. But it was difficult for the *Egyptian soldiers to *drive *Pharaoh’s heavy *chariots through it. The wheels sunk in the mud. And then the men fell off the *chariots. That caused terror for the *Egyptians. So they wanted to turn round and to go back. But they could not move.

Verses 26-28 The sea went back to its ‘usual place’. That proves that the *Israelites were not walking along a dry river. That place was usually under the water and the water returned. That frightened the *Egyptians and they tried to escape. But they could not move their vehicles, so they drowned.

Verses 29-31 The *Egyptian soldiers were dead. The *Israelites were not slaves now. God, who rules the wind and the waves, was the judge. The *Egyptians were guilty and God had freed his people. The immediate result was that the *Israelites recognised God’s great power. They had confidence that Moses would be a good leader. The word ‘servant’ here described an important official who helped to manage the king’s affairs. The *LORD’s servant means a person who obeyed God. He would carry out the orders, because God is king.

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Pharaoh ~ the Egyptian ruler or king.

Egyptian ~ someone from the country called Egypt; anything with a relationship with Egypt.
LORD ~ God gave this special name to himself. It translates the word ‘Yahweh’ in the Hebrew language. It links to the words ‘I am’; it means that God has been here always.

Lord ~ a name for God. It translates the Hebrew word ‘Adonai’, which means ‘my ruler’. The word ‘lord’ (without a capital letter) means an ordinary ruler.

Hebrew ~ the language that the Israelites spoke. A Hebrew is a Jewish person or an Israelite

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
desert ~ a wild place where there are small bushes and not much water. It has poor soil and people cannot grow crops there. So, not many people live there.
praise ~ to tell God how great he is; to give love to God, as when people are praying or singing
Egyptian ~ someone from the country called Egypt; anything with a relationship with Egypt.
chariot ~ a cart with two wheels that men used in a war
Canaanite ~ the people who originally lived in the country called Canaan; something that comes from the country called Canaan.

Canaan ~ the country that God gave to Israelites. Canaanites lived here. And also people called Amorites, Hittites, Hivites, Jebusites and Perizzites lived here.

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Hebrew ~ the language that the Israelites spoke. A Hebrew is a Jewish person or an Israelite

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.
angel ~ a servant of God who sometimes brings messages from him.
sign ~ a signal; a mark to show that something is special; a powerful act.
drive ~ to force something to move; to force someone to leave a place.